The Lint Center had a great year awarding seven different scholarships through two separate scholarship competitions. This is the largest number of scholarships we have ever awarded in a single year since we began in 2007 and now brings our total number of scholarship awards to 16.

We continue to build a great organization with tremendous help from smart people on the Center's scholarship committee, public relations team, and with the tireless work of dedicated members directing fundraising and administration efforts. There are many great people out there who have volunteered a significant amount time and lent the expertise to make the successes we have seen this past year become a reality. To our dedicated team - Thank you!

The mentor pool continues to grow, with some fantastic new additions to our already impressive roster of leaders in DHS, DOE, CIA, State Department and both civilian and military DoD personnel. Additionally, we have seen the Center's LinkedIN membership jump to well over 200 members. As is one of the fundamental purposes of the Center, this is our way and our mentors way of giving back to help the next generation to successfully pick up where we left off without having to make some of the mistakes and speed bumps we may have encountered during our careers.

We were fortunate to have a new scholarship opportunity created by a generous sponsor and consummate supporter of the Lint Center. It is having people like this doing great work and support that motivate the leadership team in Lint Center. This sponsor had generated two scholarship opportunities.

It seems our team has successfully motivated others to join our efforts, as we now have a new highly experienced scholarship grant manager coming on board (thank you, Joy!). She is a longtime volunteer and a military spouse. She understands the importance of the Center's work and the impact supporting educational advancement has on our armed forces. We look forward to her continued assistance, her fresh perspective, and we look forward to watching her make a significant impact.

Here is the quick rundown: The Lint Center's mentoring base increased by 50%, our highest scholarship award went up 33%, and the number of scholarships offered by the Center increased by 16% this year alone. Overall, it has been a very satisfying year for an organization with NO paid employees, which operates by allocating ALL donations to scholarships. In spite of this year's progress, we had during these times of economic uncertainty your continued support through volunteering and donations are all the more meaningful. We value that tremendously and hope you continue to remain active supporters of the Center's mission and purpose. Additionally, we want to take this opportunity to remind everyone that the Lint Center supports its unpaid volunteers in numerous ways. Hours spent on Lint Center projects may be added toward a nomination for the Presidential Service Award. If nominees receive a service award, volunteers receive

1) An official President's Volunteer Service Award lapel pin;

2) A personalized certificate of achievement;

3) A congratulatory letter from the President of the United States;

4) A letter from the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation,

5) A personal letter of recommendation from the Lint Center for future employers.

The Lint Center is pleased by the fact that it has already awarded two since being officially approved as a Certifying Organization for the Presidential Volunteer Service Award Program. It is just a small way for us to say thank you to our volunteers. Lastly, I am very grateful for the continued support of many volunteers, donors, and sponsors. I want to give one last plug, to Stratfor (www.stratfor.com), our first corporate sponsor, who continues to support our winners and has done so since the very first scholarship award was announced.

You can follow our progress by joining our LinkedIN Group, friending us on Facebook, or following us on Twitter (@LintCenter). Thank you for your service and support!